Introduction 33inferiority with respect to bodily strength, must render them, in some de-
gree, dependent on men in the various relations of life; but why should it
be increased by prejudices that give a sex to virtue, and confound simple
truths with sensual reveries?
Women are, in fact, so much degraded by mistaken notions of female
excellence, that I do not mean to add a paradox when I assert, that this
artifi cial weakness produces a propensity to tyrannize, and gives birth to
cunning, the natural opponent of strength, which leads them to play off
those contemptible infantine airs that undermine esteem even whilst they
excite desire. Let men become more chaste and modest, and if women do
not grow wiser in the same ratio, it will be clear that they have weaker
understandings. It seems scarcely necessary to say, that I now speak of the
sex in general. Many individuals have more sense then their male relatives;
and, as nothing preponderates where there is a constant struggle for an
equilibrium, without it has naturally more gravity, some women govern
their husbands without degrading themselves, because intellect will always
govern.